St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-10-25
A Western Land Company
Official Says There We're
Fifteen Settlers
Who Were Put Off Their Iowa
Land by Due Process
Of Law.
Agent Sheehan Sizes UP the
Red HANS Condition at
White Earth.
A Contractors Ideas on the
Building of the Red River
Valley Road.

General Manager Ephraim McMur-
trie, of the Western Land company,
which has recently become prominent
owing to the eviction of certain settlers
on its possessions in O'Brien county,
To-, was regist cred at the Merchants
Yesterday. In a conversation with the
GLOBES representative on the subject
Mr.. McMurtrie said that there had been
great many allegations that were not
borne out by the facts. and he thought
the company was entitled to at least
fair show in the premises. Substan-
TALLY, it had resolved itself into a QueS-
ton whether or not squatterS upon these
lands would purchase them from the
rightful owners or else give way to
those who would. In every case the
SQuatter had been given the first chance
TO buy the land upon which he was To-
Gated, and no increase over the price of
raw prairie land had been attempted.
Upwards of 10000 acres were involved
in the controversy, and there were
about $50 SquatterS Interested, but only
fifteen had been evicted, and these by
due process of law. This land had been
bought by its present owners from the
Milwaukee Il ST. Paul railroad, spot
cash being the consideration, and it was
true, as stated. tilaU
ENGLISH CAPITALISTS
mad furnished the money. This they
had perfect right TO do, and they
had sought an opportunity to realize on
their own investment, but invariably
with view TO giving the squatters an
opportunity to stay where they were
upon complying with terms offered
them. These had been made as easy as
possible, but few interested kicKerS,
who had been supported at Washington
TO agitate the matter, would not be APP
pelSed when they saw source of reve-
nue. on the point of being withdrawn
from them. In every case that had bee n
tried in court or before the secretary of
the Interior decision had been given in
favor of the land company, and it was
only recently that Secretary Lamar had
declined the proposition made by the
sQuatterS to have the patent to the COM
pany set aside. 1t was the purpose of
the company to encourage settlement
upon its lands by people who would i'm
prove them, and immigration from Iowa,
Nebraska, Michigan and illinois was
particularly desirable, as it would be
far preferable to bringing in alien set
tiers, who had no interest in building
up the section of country involved in
the dispute. All the clatter that had
spired by a minority of the squatters,
who had selfish interest in it, but 95
per cent. were coming to realization
of the advantages offered them by the
company, and would undoubtedly avail
themselves of the opportunity to stay
upon the land that they had already
broken.
INDIAN AGENT SHEEHAN.
Indian Agent Z. j. Sheehan, of the
White Earth reservation, paid flying
visit to st. Paul yesterday, but was
stopped IN his flight long enough to talk
about affairs under his direction
Everything is moving along smoothly
with lis now" he said, land the thresh-
ing of the crops has been inaagurated.
Eighteen hundred Indians under nv
supervision have raised 12O, 900 bushels
of wheat, oats and barley, and about
10000 bushels of potatoes this year.
They are showing disposition to help
themselves in every conceivable way,
and another industry that they will de-
vote themselves TO developing this win
ter is logging. So far as the BeaulieuS
are concerned, they are accepting the
situation. and will soon be good Indians
if they are not aleady. 1t will not be
long from the progress we are now max
ing before the Indians on the White
Earth reservation will be self-support-
ing, and the reports that | hear from
other branches of the tribe located in
various parts of Minnesota are of the
same reassuring and gratifying nature.
THE RED RIVER VALLEY ROAD.
Railroad Contractor j. NJ. Ross, who
made a PROPOSE ton to the Red River
railroad to complete the work of con-
struction and float the bonds, was con
SpicuOuS in the rOtunda of the Mer-
chants last evening, and cheerfully con-
scented to tell all that he knew about the
progress being made on this proposed
addition to the transportation facilities
of the Northwest. MY offer was made
in good faith to the provincial govern
ment,' said Mr.. Ross, but it was not
accepted, and l have withdrawn from
any further connection with the matter.
The difficulty in settling the question
grows out of the fact that the charter
granted by the province to the Manitoba
was vetoed by the government at Otta-
wa, hence it was impossible to sell the
bonds as proposed because they would
not have any legal status. Thus far
about 100000 worth of grading, bridge
and fence building along the proposed
line of the road have been contracted
for, but none of the money has been
paid to the contractors. 1t is only a
question of short time, however, be-
fore this will be done, as the
treasury of the province of Mani
tOba can be drawn upon for
amount in the interest of local improve
mentS. This does not have to be sane
toned by the authorities at Ottawa, but
is purelya matter within the iurisdic-
ton of the Manitoba authorities. To
complete the work of laying the rails.
erecting stations and other details to the
boundary line will require upwards of
100000 additional, and my latest fnfor-
NATION is to the effect that the necessary
amount will be guaranteed by the peo-
pie of the province. Already a syndi-
cate has been formed to take 50. COO. 600
worth of bonds in the new enterprise
twelve gentlemen having subscribed for
$4,000 each. They rely upon the pro-
vincial and not the Ottawa government
to make an appropriation for local i'm
prOvements, and thus enable the pro-
motors of the enterprise to float the
bondS.'
The trouble has been. too, that the
present government of Manitoba, headed
by Premier Norquay, has been inimical
rather than favorable to the Red River
road, and every obstacle possible has
been thrown in the way. But the DeO-
pie are determined to have the road
built, and they will undoubtedly be sue
ceSSful in their undertaking.
Girls for Sale.